Stirring Up A Good Yarn

If the Coen Brothers were to invent a cocktail, it’d be something like The Tragedy of Tom Dooley, one of the new range of tipples ($23 each) at Anti:dote. The blood-red drink—made of tequila, Aperol, lime juice, lavender syrup and egg white—is served in a margarita glass and finished with a ‘bloodstain’ of Peychaud Bitters on top of its foam. “It’s a reference to the death of Tom Dooley, an American civil war veteran who was convicted and hanged for a murder he did not commit,” says Tom Hogan, head bartender of Anti:dote. It doesn’t taste as sombre as its tale, though: lots of zippy, citrusy notes and a slight floral character.

We really like the Agua Fresca, too; a refreshing concoction of mezcal, parsley, sweet turnip, lime juice and suze liqueur. Pair the mixes with some bites (from $8 per dish) crafted by chef Carlos Montobbio, such as the Crisp Parmesan Pizza with Olive Oil Caviar Pesto, Powdered Tomato and Basil Cress, and the moreish Braised Eel Croquettes with Teriyaki Sauce and Kimchi Mayo.